[Surgical treatment with the freestyle bioprosthesis and omentopexy for prosthetic valve endocarditis after aortic...

A 60-year-old woman, who had undergone aortic root replacement with composite graft 5 months previously, suffered from anemia and slight fever. Transthoracic echocardiography showed pseudoaneurysm in the aortic root, and blood culture was positive. She was diagnosed with prosthetic valve endocarditis, and surgical intervention was planned. Intraoperatively necrotic tissue and dehiscence of the suture line in the aortic annulus were found. Re-aortic root replacement with Freestyle bioprosthesis and re-hemiarch graft replacement were performed with the omentopexy around the aortic root and the new graft. Antibiotics were administered intravenously for 6 weeks postoperatively. At 7 months after the operation, no prosthetic valve infection had recurred. Although the long-term results of Freestyle bioprosthesis have not been determined, it might be a valuable option for aortic root infection as an alternative to an aortic homograft. In addition, omentopexy might also be effective in the prevention of recurrent prosthetic valve infection.